Japanese official says thanks for tsunami help

Published: March 11, 2012 5:11 AM

DETROIT (AP) -- Japan's consul general in Detroit is offering his thanks to organizations in Michigan and Ohio that offered help after a giant earthquake and tsunami struck Japan a year ago.

Kuninori Matsuda says individuals, schools, churches, nonprofit organizations, corporations and local governments "gave generously and expressed close solidarity with the Japanese people" after the disaster.

The consulate received more than 200 donations that totaled more than $268,000. Organizations in both states also raised millions of dollars for relief agencies, and many people visited the consulate to sign a condolence book within hours after the earthquake struck.

The consulate general of Japan in Detroit was established in 1993 to serve the 18,000 Japanese residents in Michigan and Ohio and to promote trade and business development between Japan and the United States.